Armed Forces: Reserve Forces

Lord Astor of Hever: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence (Mr Philip Hammond) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I have today placed in the Library of the House a paper setting out the planned growth of the trained strength of the Reserve Forces, together with the enlistment targets for the next five years that will support that growth.

Correction to Commons Written Answer

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Employment (Esther McVey MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I wish to inform the House that an error has been identified in the Written Answer given to Diana Johnson on 21 November 2013, Official Report, col. 1023W, Written Answers and Statements. The information included within the table in the answer to PQ176414 contained some incorrect figures and these have now been amended. I apologise to the House for this error.
	The full answer given was:
	Asked by Diana Johnson
	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker’s allowance claimants in Hull have been sanctioned since 22 October 2012; how many such sanctions have been subsequently overturned; how many such claimants had previously been asked to undertake a literacy course by a jobcentre; and how many claimants were previously claiming employment support allowance.
	Esther McVey: The information is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Number of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) claimants with an adverse JSA sanction decision, and of these, the number overturned upon reconsideration or appeal in Kingston upon Hull local authority, 22 October 2012 to 30 June 2013 
			  Number 
			 Total number of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) claimants with an adverse JSA sanction decision 6,540 
			 Of which:  
			 Decision overturned: Total 1,140 
			 Decision overturned: Following reconsideration 1,050 
			 Decision overturned: Following appeal 90 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Totals will count individuals who have had both a sanction overturned upon reconsideration and also upon appeal.
	Source:
	DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database.
	The information requested on how many such claimants had previously been asked to undertake a literacy course or how many claimants were previously claiming employment and support allowance (ESA) is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The correct answer should have been:
	Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many jobseeker’s allowance claimants in Hull have been sanctioned since 22 October 2012; how many such sanctions have been subsequently overturned; how many such claimants had previously been asked to undertake a literacy course by a jobcentre; and how many claimants were previously claiming employment support allowance.
	Esther McVey: The information is tabled as follows:
	
		
			 Number of individuals with a jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) sanction by decision in Kingston upon Hull local authority, 22 October 2012 to 30 June 2013 
			  Number 
			 Sanction applied 4,330 
			 Overturned following reconsideration 880 
			 Overturned following appeal 80 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	2. Data is to the 30 June 2013 which is the latest available information.
	3. Sanction applied: New sanctions rules came into force for JSA from 22 October 2012. The number of sanctions applied is the number of low, intermediate and high level referrals where the decision was found against the claimant. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules
	4. The decision to apply a sanction can be overturned following reconsideration or appeal.
	5. All figures may include individuals who have had more than one sanction decision e.g. if an individual has a sanction applied and another sanction overturned following an appeal then they will appear twice.
	Source:
	DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database.
	The information requested on how many such claimants had previously been asked to undertake a literacy course or how many claimants were previously claiming employment and support allowance (ESA) is not readily available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Department for Communities and Local Government: Christmas Recess Business

Baroness Stowell of Beeston: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Eric Pickles) made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 6 January 2014.
	I would like to update honourable Members on the main items of business undertaken by my department since the House rose for Recess on 19 December.
	Helping councils with flood recovery
	I would like to thank the Environment Agency, local authorities and voluntary groups like the British Red Cross which have worked successfully with the emergency services to deal with the damage caused by the recent flooding and their continued help to households and businesses dealing with the aftermath.
	Many households and businesses have been disrupted by the severe tidal surge and resulting floods that have affected parts of the country. We want to ensure all possible action is taken to help affected households get the support they need.
	On 29 December, my department wrote to all local authorities in England to notify them that the Bellwin scheme was activated. The Bellwin scheme retrospectively reimburses councils for exceptional costs incurred from emergencies or unexpected events.
	We also asked councils for assurance that they are prepared for any future flooding and that everything possible is being done to help those affected by the bad weather during what has been a difficult holiday period for many.
	Tackling rogue landlords
	The overwhelming majority of landlords are law-abiding citizens, who work hard to provide quality accommodation to their tenants. However, the Coalition Government is determined to help councils tackle the small minority of rogue landlords, while avoiding disproportionate red tape on the whole private rented sector.
	On 30 December, my department announced a £4 million boost for local authorities to tackle rogue landlords in their area. Twenty-three councils will share the funding so they can take on landlords that force their tenants to live in squalid and dangerous properties, making their lives a misery. This is part of a package of measures that will ensure millions of hard-working tenants get a better deal when they rent a home.
	In addition, new legislation which came into force in December will enable courts to take account of landlords' assets, as well as their income, when levying fines for housing offences.
	We also published an application criterion which means redress schemes for lettings and property management will now be able to come forward for approval. All agents will be required to join one of the approved schemes, so their tenants have somewhere to turn to if they do not get the service they deserve.
	Ensuring fair play on housing waiting lists
	As a result of lax immigration controls under the last Labour Government, 1 in 6 of all social housing tenants in London are now foreigners, and across England, 1 in 10 of all new tenants are foreign nationals.
	This Coalition Government is determined that hard-working local people should be given priority for council homes. We want to restore fairness to a system that many people believe is often skewed against the local people it is designed to support.
	We published new statutory guidance on 31 December which makes clear that only hard-working people with a well-established residency, relatives or a job in the
	local area can go on their council’s waiting list. This means they will be the first to benefit when homes become available.
	The guidance ensures councils require people to have lived in the area for at least two years. Only those who pass this test will be accepted onto the waiting list in their local area—and then be considered for social housing.
	To reassure local people that they are being treated fairly, councils are encouraged to publish information about who is applying for and getting social housing in their area.
	The new guidance also confirms that members of the Armed Forces, who are often unable to settle in one area for a long time, are considered a priority for housing. This move will end years of confusion and anger in local communities about the way council housing is allocated.
	Helping those with small deposits get on and move up the housing ladder
	The Help to Buy schemes help those with small deposits get on and move up the housing ladder. The Help to Buy equity loan scheme is overseen by my department; the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme is overseen by HM Treasury.
	Latest figures show that from its launch in April 2013 to the end of November, there have been 20,652 reservations for new build homes under the Help to Buy equity loan scheme. There have been 9,459 completed sales over the same period, 90 per cent of which are to first time buyers and the average value of property purchased was £199,000. Over 90 per cent of the 1,200 house builders registered under the scheme are small to medium-sized developers. In contrast to England, the Help to Buy equity loan scheme is not currently offered by the Labour-run Welsh Government.
	These figures are complemented by the latest Help to Buy mortgage guarantee figures showing that over 6,000 people have put in offers on a home and applied for a Help to Buy guaranteed mortgage. Households are looking to buy houses worth about £160,000 on average (below the UK average price of £247,000) and 80 per cent are first time buyers. These mortgages, once approved, will represent nearly £1 billion of new lending to aspiring home owners who may have previously found the property market out-of-reach because of the size of deposit required. I am pleased to say that the Help to Buy mortgage guarantee is available across the United Kingdom, as it is a reserved matter.
	The two Help to Buy schemes are part of the Government's long-term economic plan to build a stronger, more competitive economy, and support those who aspire to own their own home. Indeed, I would also note:
	House building at its highest level since 2007. New orders in residential construction have risen to their highest level since 2007 (ONS, Output in the Construction Industry statistics, 13 December 2013)The value of residential loans advanced to first time buyers is at its highest rate since 2007 (Bank of England, Mortgage Lenders and Administrators Statistics, 10 December 2013).
	The number of new mortgage arrears cases is at its lowest quarterly number of new cases since the series began in 2007 (ibid.).
	Helping social tenants get on the housing ladder
	This Coalition Government is determined to help hard-working tenants aspire to buy their home. We have taken further steps to reinvigorate the Right to Buy scheme across England in 2014.
	On 3 January, I announced that the maximum discount for a house will increase from 60 per cent to 70 per cent of its value, and the £75,000 cap will start increasing in line with the Consumer Price Index rate of inflation. A £100 million fund will improve access to mortgage finance, and new Right to Buy agents will guide people through the buying process. Revenue from additional sales will be ploughed back into delivering new affordable homes for rent, which will help drive up the rate of house building across England.
	The Right to Buy gives something back to families who worked hard, paid their rent and played by the rules. It allows them to do up their home, change their front door, improve their garden—without getting permission from the council. It gives people a sense of pride and ownership not just in their home, but in their street and neighbourhood, helping to build strong families and stable mixed communities. So we am determined that this help is on hand for hard-working, aspiring homeowners.
	The support for Right to Buy in England is in strong contrast to the policy of the Labour-run Welsh Government which has slashed back the Right to Buy.
	Offering a fair deal to firefighters
	We all hold our brave fire men and women in the highest regard and are grateful to them for their help during the recent flooding and bad weather.
	However, despite offering firefighters a fair deal and one of the most generous pension schemes in the public sector, it is unfortunate the Fire Brigades Union took the decision to take industrial action during the holiday season, on 24 and 31 December and 3 January.
	Although Ministers met with the Fire Brigades Union on Christmas Eve to continue discussions their continued industrial action shows that they are not serious about resolving this dispute, and have simply further damaged firefighters’ standing with the public.
	Our fair offer means a firefighter who earns £29,000, and retires after a full career aged 60, will get a £19,000 a year pension, rising to £26,000 with the state pension. An equivalent private sector pension pot would be worth over half a million pounds and require firefighters to contribute twice as much.
	The firefighter pension age of 60 was introduced in 2006 and is in line with the police and armed forces. We have been clear with the Fire Brigades Union our pension reforms are not introducing a national fitness standard.
	Supporting regular bin collections for family homes
	My department continues to urge councils to bring common sense back to weekly bin collections. Weekly rubbish collections are the most visible of all front-line services and we believe every household in England has a basic right to have their rubbish collected every week.
	On 4 January, we published the first ever Government guidance on weekly collections (the “bin bible”) which promotes best practice lessons learnt from the Weekly Collection Support Scheme and highlights how all councils can keep weekly collections, increase recycling and still make common-sense efficiency savings.
	Fortnightly collections were actively promoted under the last Labour Government: bin collections halved, while council tax doubled. Indeed, fortnightly bin collections are the official policy of the Labour-run Government in Wales—which is now even encouraging monthly bin collections.
	Our guidance builds on steps this Government has already taken in England including:
	safeguarding weekly collections for 6 million households through the Weekly Collection Support Scheme;removing Whitehall directives, targets and financial penalties demanding fortnightly bin collections;supporting over 41 innovative reward schemes to back recycling;abolishing plans for new bin taxes;changing the law to scrap unfair bin fines;amending building regulations to tackle “bin blight”;removing powers of entry and snooping powers from bin inspectors and scrapped guidance telling people to rifle through families’ bins.
	This Government is standing up for front-line services for hard-working people, while keeping their council tax bills down.
	Copies of the press notices and associated documents have been placed in the Library of the House.

Drug Driving

Baroness Kramer: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Robert Goodwill) has made the following Ministerial Statement.
	In May 2012 the Government introduced primary legislation to Parliament that would create a new offence of driving with a specified controlled drug in the body above the specified limit for that drug. The Crime and Courts Act 2013 sets out the framework for the new offence.
	Regulations now need to be made to specify the drugs to be included in the legislation and the limits to be specified. I have today published a consultation seeking views on the Government’s proposed limit for amphetamine to be included in these regulations. The proposals follow an earlier consultation conducted over the summer on the proposed 17 drugs and limits for 16 of them. We did not propose a limit for amphetamine as we sought views in that consultation on what a suitable limit might be. We have analysed the responses and concluded that the limit should be 50 micrograms per litre.
	In the earlier consultation we proposed a zero-tolerance approach to deal with those who drive under the influence of illegal drugs as this sends the strongest possible message that you cannot take drugs and drive.
	We also put forward our approach for dealing with drivers who use drugs that have recognised and widespread medical uses but which can also affect a patient’s ability to drive and are sometimes misused. We know that the vast majority of people who use these drugs are doing so responsibly and safely and that is why our approach does not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly prescribed medicines. The limits we proposed follow the recommendations of the Expert Panel, which in the vast majority of cases, will avoid the new offence catching out drivers who have taken properly prescribed or supplied drugs in accordance with the directions of a healthcare professional or the drug manufacturer. This will avoid inconveniencing the public and taking up police time.
	We considered that amphetamine needed to be treated differently because it had significant medical use but was also commonly used illicitly. The full explanation of the analysis for the rationale and consideration of the responses for the proposed amphetamine limit is set out in the consultation document.
	We believe the proposed limit of 50 micrograms per litre is above the therapeutic range for most who are taking amphetamine legitimately, but would also be effective in catching those who are abusing amphetamine.
	The consultation starts today and closes on 30 January 2014 and copies will be laid in the Libraries of the House.
	We will then publish our consideration of both consultations in 2014 soon after the close of this consultation and finalise the regulations in readiness for Parliament, which will need to approve them before they become law.

Employment: Zero-hours Contracts

Viscount Younger of Leckie: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Vince Cable) has today made the following Statement.
	Today I am publishing a Government consultation on zero-hours contracts. The Government is part-way through an ambitious programme of employment law reform designed to make the UK labour market flexible and fair. As a part of this work, the Government is seeking views on a range of options for ensuring zero-hours contracts are both flexible and fair.
	Zero-hours contracts have a role in a flexible labour market. They can help businesses respond to changes in demand and support individuals who want the freedom and flexibility to fit their work around their other commitments. They can also offer a pathway to further employment for young people. The Government wishes to maximise these opportunities while minimising and preventing any abuse or exploitation of individuals on zero-hours contracts.
	This consultation builds upon an information-gathering exercise the Government undertook this summer. This found a number of benefits associated with zero-hours contracts but also identified issues around exclusivity clauses, where individuals on zero-hours contracts are
	being prevented from working for another employer; a lack of clarity in the information and transparency in contracts provided to individuals; and issues over levels of uncertainty individuals on zero-hours contracts reported they experienced.
	The consultation seeks views on a range of options the Government has to address in order to take action. It runs until 13 March 2014. Copies of the consultation will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Energy: Electricity Market Reform

Baroness Verma: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Edward Davey) made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 19 December 2013.
	I wish to inform the House that today the Government are publishing the Electricity Market Reform (EMR) Delivery Plan. As laid out in my 18 July Statement—Official Report, col. 112WS—it was our intention to publish the final EMR Delivery Plan before the end of the year, subject to Royal Assent of the Energy Bill.
	EMR is a central component of the Energy Act 2013, which received Royal Assent yesterday, and will address the need to attract unprecedented levels of investment in the UK electricity sector over the coming decades as we replace our ageing energy infrastructure with a diverse mix of low-carbon generation and meet the expected increases in electricity demand as sectors such as transport and heat are electrified.
	Following the consultation on the draft delivery plan for EMR in July 2013, and the Government’s announcement of Contract for Difference (CfDs) strike prices for renewable technologies on 4 December 2013, the Delivery Plan sets out further detail on the supporting methodology and analysis which underpin the final CfD strike prices.
	It also confirms government policy on the capacity market reliability standard of three hours loss of load expectation (LOLE). Government is introducing a Capacity Market to drive investment and has today confirmed the level of system security that will be required under mechanism.
	The Delivery Plan also confirms the Government’s intention to introduce competition immediately for more established technologies.
	Alongside the final Delivery Plan, I have published the summary of responses and the Government’s full response to the consultation on the draft delivery plan.
	I have also published the latest report from the system operator—National Grid—which lays out the underpinning analysis conducted to support the decisions contained in the Delivery Plan, and a report on that analysis from the independent Panel of Technical Experts.
	Accompanying the Delivery Plan is a revised draft version of the CfD with improvements made to contract terms since the summer to support developers to bring
	forward investment at lower costs to consumers. Together with strike prices, this package will make the UK one of the most attractive for clean energy developers.
	The Government has today sent out draft investment contracts for consideration to the 16 renewable electricity projects which met the minimum threshold evaluation criteria of the Final Investment Decision (FID) Enabling for Renewables process.
	I will deposit copies of the Delivery Plan in the Libraries of both Houses, and associated documents are available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/electricity-market-reform-delivery-plan

Energy: UK Coal

Baroness Verma: My right honourable friend the Minister of State for Energy (Michael Fallon) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Department of Energy and Climate Change requires a cash advance of £1,500,000 from the Contingencies Fund in 2013/14 to fund the costs of assuming the concessionary fuel allowances of former miners who lost their entitlement as a result of the restructuring of UK Coal in July 2013.
	On 15 November, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced that the Government would guarantee the concessionary fuel allowance and, where appropriate, the alternative cash in lieu entitlements of the 1,500 former miners who lost their entitlement as a result of the restructuring of UK Coal with all entitlements to be backdated to July 2013 subject to any change in personal circumstances.
	The department intends to rely on the Supply and Appropriation (Anticipation and Adjustments) Act for this spend. The advance is urgent to avoid hardship and potential ill-health effects in the winter months. Accordingly, parliamentary approval for additional resources of £1,500,000 for this new service will be sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Energy and Climate Change. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £1,500,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

EU: Greek Presidency

Baroness Warsi: My Honourable Friend the Minister of State (David Lidington) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I am keen to keep Members fully informed on developments in the European Union and their implications for the United Kingdom and our priorities. I would, therefore, like to draw Members' attention to a paper on the priorities of the Greek Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which has been placed in the Library of the House. I have also deposited a copy of the calendar of Ministerial meetings for the duration of their Presidency.

G8

Lord Hill of Oareford: My right honourable friend, the Prime Minister has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	I would like to update Parliament on the outcomes of the UK Presidency of the G8 and the costs of the 2013 G8 Summit in Lough Erne.
	Progress
	Since the G8 Summit on 17-18 June, we have made very good progress on trade, tax and transparency, benefiting countries across the world including the poorest nations. The UK has today published an end-of-year G8 2013 UK Presidency report that summarises commitments made at Lough Erne, progress made since June, and next steps. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.
	Trade
	The EU and Canada reached agreement on key elements of a comprehensive free trade deal in October, while progress continues on the EU-US and EU-Japan trade deals. The WTO struck a landmark deal at Bali earlier this month, including measures to cut border bureaucracy. This deal will boost the global economy by £70 billion per year.
	Tax
	The OECD plans to present a single standard on automatic tax information exchange by February 2014. The OECD is also implementing an Action Plan to address tax avoidance and to ensure multinationals report what tax they pay where.
	Transparency
	G8 countries have published national action plans setting out how they will ensure companies know who owns and controls them. I announced on 31 October that the UK will make its central registry of beneficial ownership publicly accessible. In the extractives sector, US and EU law will require companies to report their payments to all Governments. The US, UK and France, Germany and Italy have announced that they will sign up to the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. Finally, on open data, G8 members have produced or are preparing Open Data Action Plans setting out how government data will be “open by default” where possible.
	On Kidnap for Ransom, the G8 unequivocally rejected the payment of ransoms to terrorists and called on others to follow this lead. The G8 undertook to work together to prevent kidnaps and to help resolve hostage incidents by sharing best practice and expertise. Since Lough Erne, G8 members have focused on improving co-ordination in travel advice to high-risk areas, strengthening collaboration on kidnap response, and building an international consensus.
	The G8 also agreed to continue support for Libya’s democratic transition, and in the margins of the Lough Erne Summit there was agreement to train up to 7,000 Libyan troops. On 16 December, the United Nations Security Council issued a Presidential Statement reaffirming support for Libya’s ongoing democratic transition.
	The UK looks forward to maintaining momentum on these issues during 2014, working with the Russian G8 Presidency, Australian G20 Presidency and other partners.
	Benefits for the UK
	The successful 2013 G8 Summit in Northern Ireland demonstrated to the global community that it is a first-class destination for business and tourism. It showcased this part of the UK by maximising the opportunities for inward investment and highlighting internationally what Northern Ireland, its people and businesses have to offer. The Summit prompted a subsequent international investment conference in Belfast on 10-11 October which brought together 150 potential and existing inward investors.
	Summit costs
	The total estimated cost of putting on a safe and secure G8 Summit was £82 million, split between the costs of the event itself (accommodation, food, logistics) and the costs of policing and security in Northern Ireland. This cost less in real terms than when the UK hosted the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in 2005. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office managed the logistical arrangements for Summit in Enniskillen, the most westerly town in the United Kingdom, at a net cost of just over £10 million. Twelve government departments will contribute towards these costs, consistent with the funding of similar cross-Whitehall events such as the Papal visit in 2010.
	The Lough Erne Summit was also the safest G8 Summit in memory, with only two arrests and a broad range of peaceful protests and campaigns in Belfast and Enniskillen. The Northern Ireland Office co-ordinated policing and security for the G8 with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), other security partners and across Whitehall. The total costs of the police and security operation were approximately £72 million.
	The PSNI was responsible for the operational delivery of a secure Summit, involving almost 5,000 PSNI officers supplemented by 3,600 mutual aid police officers from police forces in England and Wales, and Scotland. This was the first time that police officers from Great Britain had been deployed to Northern Ireland for public order duties under “mutual aid”.
	The PSNI operation cost approximately £40 million, of which £26 million was funded by HM Treasury from the Reserve and the rest met by the Northern Ireland Executive. The deployment of 3,600 mutual aid police officers cost just under £29 million; central government departments are meeting these costs. Additional national security measures and specialist military support cost approximately £3 million; these costs will be met by the Northern Ireland Office and MoD. HM Treasury has supported the process of apportioning G8 policing costs throughout.
	The estimated costs of the Summit are set out in Tables 1 and 2 below.
	
		
			 Table 1: Estimated Summit Event Costs 
			 Item £000 
			 Venue Hire 1,070 
			 Security (internal) 2,680 
			 Transport 1,535 
		
	
	
		
			 Production & Media 2,600 
			 Other Summit costs 1,390 
			 Accommodation 775 
			 Total 10,050 
		
	
	Note:
	figures have been rounded, and are net of income received for Production & Media (£230,000) and Accommodation (£145,000).
	
		
			 Table 2: Estimated Police And Security Costs 
			 Item £000 
			 PSNI Direct Costs 40,180 
			 Mutual Aid 28,655 
			 Specialist Military Support 2,535 
			 National Security 640 
			 Total 72,010 
		
	
	Note:
	figures have been rounded.

Government Contracts

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Francis Maude) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Outside providers deliver high-quality public services every day. Public services are too important to too many people to be allowed to be the monopoly of the public sector. We need a vibrant mix of the very best suppliers—a hybrid economy of diverse partners. But the key to ensuring taxpayer value and high-quality services is in improved supplier management.
	On 11 July the Justice Secretary made a Statement to the House about significant anomalies in the billing practices under the Ministry of Justice’s Electronic Monitoring contracts with Serco and G4S. Since then the Government’s response has been rigorous. The Justice Secretary has led extensive work within the Ministry of Justice. At the same time I initiated a cross-government review with PwC, Moore Stephens and a highly experienced Oversight Group. This reviewed 28 of the largest contracts held by Serco and G4S worth £5.9 billion in total.
	Today we publish those two reports. They provide clear evidence that contract management in government requires improvement. There were examples of good practice and skilled work by officials across Whitehall. But in the majority of contracts reviewed across government there are weaknesses in the way contracts are managed, some of which are significant.
	The Cross-Government Review found no evidence of deliberate acts or omissions by either firm leading to errors or irregularities in the charging and billing arrangements on the 28 contracts investigated.
	The Review found that there were deficiencies in key controls being applied to the invoice and payment processes and there is therefore a risk that overcharging may have occurred. The Review’s assessment of the deficiencies has determined that, in all but three cases, the impact is considered unlikely to be material (where ongoing work will establish with more confidence the
	significance and impact of the risks identified). Nevertheless, the issues found across government are sufficiently important that senior management attention is recommended. The failings could, if left unchecked, lead to future erroneous charging for services delivered or opportunities missed to intervene at the right point in order to make necessary corrections.
	These weaknesses fall into seven themes and the report makes eight specific recommendations to address them. Work is already underway to address problems with commercial capability and contract management as part of the Civil Service Reform programme. Indeed for the past three years, the Government has been frank about our challenges in these areas.
	The new recommendations from this review build on our ongoing work through the Efficiency and Reform Group, including to establish a Crown Commercial Service and professionalise procurement under the leadership of the newly-created Chief Procurement Officer in the Cabinet Office. The review underscores the urgent need to address these longstanding weaknesses and we will redouble our efforts to do so. I accept the report and its recommendations in full and I have placed a copy of the report in the Library of the House.
	Today marks the conclusion of the reviews that the Cabinet Office and the Ministry of Justice have been conducting into Serco contracts. No further evidence of impropriety has been found beyond those on the Electronic Monitoring and Prisoner Escorting contracts.
	Over the past few months Serco has engaged constructively with government, setting out a corporate renewal plan that is now well advanced. We expect to provide a final opinion on the adequacy of the plan in January, following advice from the Oversight Group and independent advisers, who will also continue to monitor implementation. As set out by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Justice, we have agreed a settlement with Serco to recompense the taxpayer £68.5 million excluding VAT for the overcharging found in an audit of Ministry of Justice contracts.
	This is a positive step forward for both parties and one that the Government welcomes.
	Alongside the discussions with Serco, we have continued to engage G4S, and anticipate a further update in due course.

Health: Maternity Care

Earl Howe: My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Dr Daniel Poulter) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	On 20 December 2013 I published information about the availability of £10 million capital funding in 2013-14 to improve maternity care settings across England so both mothers and fathers, and the staff who work in the units, can benefit from a more pleasant and appropriate environment. Improving Maternity Care Settings: Capital fund programme 2013-14: Information and criteria has been placed in the Library.
	Copies are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
	Improvements to over 100 maternity units across the country funded by the £25 million Improving Birthing Environments Capital Fund in 2012-13 are making a big difference to families, with more choice and better environments where women can give birth.
	This year, the funding criteria prioritise:
	services where the birth rate has increased quickly or where the environment needs to adapt to local demographic population changes, orinitiatives that can make a difference to women who have mental health or substance misuse problems.
	Information on how to apply for this funding was made available to maternity units in December 2013 and can be found at:
	www.gov.uk/government/publications/improving-maternity-care-settings-applying-for-funds
	The closing date for applications is 17:00 on Friday 10 January 2014.
	It is important that the views and experiences of women and their families locally inform the development and design of birthing environments. The successful projects will have demonstrated involvement and support from service users and the ability to deliver the project in the current financial year.

Insurance

Lord Deighton: My honourable friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Sajid Javid) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The insurance industry is a vital asset for the UK. It employs over 300,000 people across the country, attracts global capital, serves the needs of consumers, and is a major British exporter. This Government is therefore committed to making the UK one of the most competitive places in the world for insurance.
	The Government is today launching a UK insurance growth action plan, which sets out five areas where action will be taken by government and industry, working with other partners, to strengthen the sector’s contribution to economic growth and work together to enhance the UK’s position as a global leader in a truly global industry.
	The UK industry in overseas markets
	The Government will develop a co-ordinated, targeted approach to promotional and other activity, focusing on five key markets—Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and Turkey—including establishing a programme of senior government and private sector visits, as well as prioritising financial services and insurance within upcoming free trade negotiations.
	The UK as a location for insurers
	The Government will develop a programme to target overseas insurers to move their domicile to the UK, including developing a marketing campaign setting out the business case for locating in the UK, and the regulatory authorities have committed to streamlining authorisations processes for prospective insurance applicants.
	Insurers as long-term investors in the UK
	Building on the successful outcome the Government negotiated on the Solvency II Directive, the following insurers, Aviva, Friends Life, Legal & General, Prudential, Scottish Widows, and Standard Life, will work alongside partners with the aim of delivering at least £25 billion of investment in UK infrastructure in the next five years.
	Serving UK insurance customers
	The Government wants to see an insurance sector that helps customers manage risk, puts its customers first—by harnessing the power of new technology and creating products that meet their needs—and has their trust and confidence. The Government asks that the industry commit to ensuring consumers are able to access the insurance products they need with information that enables them to make informed choices.
	Skills and diversity in insurance
	The Government’s aim is to see an insurance workforce in the UK representative of the customers it serves and well equipped to meet their needs. To this end, the Government welcomes industry’s proposals to: establish a gateway project to help people find apprenticeships and graduate training places within insurance; double the number of technical apprentices over the next five years; and strengthen the pipeline of senior female executives in the insurance industry.
	Copies of the UK insurance growth action plan will be available on the gov.uk website and have been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses.

International Tribunals (Sierra Leone)Act 2007

Baroness Warsi: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (William Hague) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Government has today laid before Parliament a memorandum to the Foreign Affairs Committee on the post-legislative scrutiny of the International Tribunals (Sierra Leone) Act 2007.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office carried out the post-legislative scrutiny, which includes a preliminary assessment of how the International Tribunals (Sierra Leone) Act 2007 has worked in practice, and has set out the findings in a Command Paper (Cm 8775) to the Committee.
	Copies of the Command Paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses and also in the Vote Office and Printed Paper Office.

Ministry of Justice: Contracts

Lord McNally: My right honourable friend the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Chris Grayling) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	Background
	On 11 July I made a Statement to the House about significant anomalies that my department had identified in the billing practices under MoJ’s electronic monitoring contracts with G4S and Serco. An initial audit of the contracts had found that MoJ had been charged by the two companies in ways not justified by the contracts and for people who were not in fact being monitored. Their conduct under these contracts is now subject to a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office.
	G4S and Serco withdrew from the ongoing competition for the next generation of electronic monitoring contracts. The new contracts will deliver state-of-the-art GPS tracking technology, better value for money and robust contract management arrangements.
	From the outset I made clear that I intended to take robust action to deal with evidence of unacceptable conduct by suppliers under my department’s contracts, and to recover any monies overpaid as a result of these practices.
	I requested an audit of every contract my department holds with G4S and Serco. I also asked for an independent review into the health and robustness of all aspects of contract management across MoJ. Today marks the conclusion of these reviews. This Statement deals with matters relating to my department’s contracts. The Minister for the Cabinet Office will be making a separate statement on the cross-government review of contracts held by the two companies and on their progress in achieving corporate renewal.
	Serco
	Serco agreed to a forensic audit of the electronic monitoring contract, conducted by PwC, including examination of email traffic relating to the contract. On the basis of this analysis Serco has now agreed to repay £68.5 million excluding VAT. This figure reimburses the Government for money owed on the electronic monitoring contract and for other costs incurred, including the cost of investigating these matters. It also includes £4.2 million which will be set against future costs incurred as we transition to new electronic monitoring arrangements. I am satisfied on the basis of PwC’s forensic audit, and having taken appropriate advice, that this represents a good deal for the taxpayer. As with all full and final settlements, in the event of criminality being established with material impact, we would look again at our contractual position.
	On 28 August I announced that Serco’s contract for escorting prisoners to courts (the “PECS” contract) had been referred to the City of London Police. This followed the discovery that members of Serco staff had been recording prisoners as having been delivered ready for court when in fact they were not. Serco agreed at that point to repay past profits and forgo future profits earned on the PECS contract, and the company has now confirmed that it will repay past profits amounting to £2 million excluding VAT. The contract remains subject to MoJ supervision and is being robustly managed.
	The PwC audit did not find any further evidence of material issues on Serco contracts beyond electronic monitoring and PECS.
	G4S
	MoJ’s audit of G4S contracts has uncovered problems with two further contracts held by G4S for facilities management in the courts. Specifically, the audit revealed serious issues relating to invoicing, delivery and performance reporting against both contracts. While at this stage, my department does not have evidence to confirm that dishonesty has taken place, we have today, following legal advice, referred both matters to the Serious Fraud Office in order to establish whether this is the case.
	The PwC audit did not find any further evidence of material issues on any other MoJ contracts held by G4S.
	Unlike Serco, G4S has not yet agreed a position on repayment. However, discussions are ongoing and I remain determined to pursue all legal options to recover the taxpayer’s money.
	Rehabilitation Reforms
	In the light of these developments, both G4S and Serco have decided to withdraw from the MoJ competition for rehabilitation services. This means that neither company will play a role as a lead provider of probation services in England and Wales in this competition.
	However, the Government has left open the possibility of either supplier, as part of their corporate renewal, playing a supporting role, working with smaller businesses or voluntary sector providers in order to support our objective of achieving a diverse market. Any proposals will be considered as part of a rigorous evaluation process, and will take account of the Government’s wider assessment of the companies’ progress in achieving corporate renewal.
	MoJ Contract Management Review
	While it is evident that both suppliers’ conduct under these contracts has been wholly unacceptable, I made clear in my Statement in July that my department had been found wanting in its management of the electronic monitoring contracts. Officials took immediate steps to address the emerging issues. A new contract management team was put in place to manage the electronic monitoring contracts and members of MoJ staff were placed permanently at each contractor’s site to monitor performance on the ground. The PECS contract was immediately placed under close supervision.
	I also asked Tim Breedon, MoJ’s lead non-executive director, to conduct an independent review of all aspects of contract management across the department. This review was informed by a detailed assessment by PwC of the 15 largest and highest-risk contracts from across the MoJ. Each was assessed against the NAO framework of best practice in contract management.
	The review found evidence of good practice but also significant and long-standing weaknesses in MoJ’s management of contracts. The report makes proposals for action to achieve best practice across seven distinct areas. These proposals are consistent with those emerging from the cross-government review. I am very grateful to Tim Breedon for overseeing this comprehensive review. I have commissioned a programme to implement the report’s findings in full across MoJ and will have processes in place to do this by the end of March 2014. A copy of the report is being placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review

Lord Hill of Oareford: My right honourable friend the Prime Minister has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	On behalf of the Deputy Prime Minister and other members of the National Security Council, I am pleased to present the third annual report of progress in implementing the 2010 National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review. Copies are today being placed in the Library of the House.
	Over the last year the Government has continued to focus its efforts to build the United Kingdom’s prosperity, extend our influence in the world and further strengthen our security as set out in 2010. It remains clear that our national security depends on our economic security and vice versa. In creating the National Security Council, the Government has established an effective way to ensure prompt, coherent, co-ordinated and well-informed decision-making on defence and security in the round, directing the Government’s long-term strategy and responding to the issues of the day.
	The global economic slowdown and the parlous state of government finances in 2010 had a serious economic impact. Over the last 12 months, the Government has continued to focus effort overseas to increase exports and encourage inward investment in the UK, helping UK business to ensure success in the global race for economic success. To support the UK in this race we are deploying more diplomats to the fastest-growing parts of the world, upgrading existing posts and opening new ones. We are also striking new relationships beyond our traditional alliances—Britain’s influence in the world is expanding, not shrinking. The UK’s economy is growing, new jobs are being created and we continue to cut the deficit. We used our 2013 G8 Presidency to make commitments to boost jobs and growth by: advancing trade; ensuring everyone pays their fair share of taxes; and promoting greater transparency. For the first time, G8 leaders agreed unequivocally to reject ransom payments to terrorists. A Statement on the outcomes of the 2013 G8 Presidency is being laid before Parliament today.
	In defence, a balanced budget means that MoD can now afford its future equipment programme, investing in the critical capabilities we need for today and in the future, including in areas such as cyber. Tough negotiations with industry led to a renegotiation of the last Government’s flawed contract for the aircraft carriers, agreeing a cost of £6.2 billion and moving to a model which properly incentivises industry efficiency. We expect to launch HMS “Queen Elizabeth” in 2014, with flying trials from the carrier beginning in 2018.We will also be ordering three new Offshore Patrol Vessels for the Royal Navy. In July, the Government published an unclassified version of the Trident Alternatives Review, a Cabinet Office-led study into alternative deterrent systems and postures. The review demonstrated that no alternative system is as capable, or as cost-effective, as a Trident-based deterrent. Government policy remains
	to maintain a continuous at-sea deterrent and proceed with the programme to build a new fleet of ballistic missile submarines.
	On the Armed Forces Covenant, the whole of government is working to ensure that no serving or former Armed Forces personnel, or their families, are disadvantaged for the enormous sacrifices they make for their country. This ensures that they are recognised as valuable members of society, and are able to go from strength to strength in the vital and often dangerous role they undertake on behalf of the country. We should be proud that 397 local authorities (98% of those in Great Britain) have signed the Community Covenant and are working to bring service and local communities closer together. Funding for the Covenant will endure, with a further £10 million per year to be made available from 2015/16. In addition, £100 million of LIBOR fines is being used to support a range of good causes, including further funding for the Armed Forces Community and Service charities; and we have made around £200 million available to help members of the Armed Forces get on the property ladder.
	The UK will host the 2014 NATO Summit in Wales on 4-5September. The Summit will be an historic opportunity to look to the future—to ensure that the Alliance, which is the bedrock of our defence, is well equipped for future challenges and reinforces our critical transatlantic security relationships. It will also mark transition of our effort in Afghanistan. By hosting the Summit, we will underline both our own and our Allies’ shared commitment to our collective security.
	The National Security Council has set a clear strategic direction on Afghanistan. Although challenges remain, the Afghan National Security Forces continue to grow in capability, confidence and capacity, and we will continue to support them. UK forces will cease combat operations, and security transition remains on track to be achieved, by the end of 2014. We continue to work closely with the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other international partners, in an effort to help find a long-term political settlement to the conflict. The UK will maintain current development assistance of £178 million per annum until 2017 to help Afghans tackle extreme poverty, create jobs and achieve sustainable economic growth.
	In the Middle East and Africa, we have played a leading role in the efforts to seek a negotiated settlement over Iran’s nuclear programme; to end the conflict in Syria; to restore order in Mali; and to support Libya’s democratic transition. In Syria, the UK has been at the forefront of alleviating the crisis, committing £500 million in aid. In May 2013, the second London Somalia Conference galvanised international support behind the Somali Government’s plans for security, political process, public financial management and justice.
	Instability and conflict continue to threaten our national security. This year we improved our cross-government early-warning capabilities, and last year introduced the £20 million Early Action Facility (EAF) within the Conflict Pool to allow us rapidly to respond to early warnings and opportunities to prevent conflict. The EAF has this year committed £12 million to support government policy in Syria and neighbouring countries on top of existing multi-year Conflict Pool
	Funding and humanitarian assistance. The UK’s response to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines has clearly demonstrated the difference that humanitarian aid and support from the Armed Forces can make in disaster situations.
	In the Spending Review, we announced that in April 2015 a new £1 billion Conflict, Stability and Security Fund will be introduced bringing together defence, diplomatic, development, security and intelligence capabilities, replacing the Conflict Pool. The strategy for this fund will be set by the NSC taking a long-term view of British interests.
	The Autumn Statement confirmed that the Government will meet its commitment to spend 0.7% of the UK’s Gross National Income (GNI) on Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the first time in 2013, and meet our promise to the world’s poorest. We will be the first G8 country to reach the 0.7% target.
	This year, I co-chaired the High Level Panel on what should replace the Millennium Development Goals when they expire in 2015. The Panel’s report was published in May 2013, recommending goals for ending extreme poverty by 2030 and putting in place institutions like the rule of law and good governance, which are key to tackling conflict. The report also highlighted the importance of peace and security for development. The Government will now work intensely to ensure that the UN negotiations on the final set of post-2015 goals end up with inspiring and crunchy goals which take forward this vision.
	The threat of weapons proliferation and arms control remains serious. This is why we worked hard, alongside civil society and like-minded partners, to secure the UN General Assembly’s adoption of a strong Arms Trade Treaty in April 2013. As part of our G8 presidency, the UK has also been chairing the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction, which has 27 members and co-ordinates international funding of around $2 billion a year towards counter-proliferation programmes.
	The events in Woolwich, and the attack against the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, are a reminder that the threat that the UK faces remains both serious and sustained and that the nature of the threat is evolving and diversifying. In response to Woolwich, the Extremism Task Force was established to agree practical steps to fight against all forms of extremism. The police and security services have continued to contain the threat from Northern Ireland-related terrorism. Against this backdrop, the Government continues to ring-fence funding (£563 million for 2013/14) for counter-terrorism policing capabilities.
	In October 2013, we launched the new National Crime Agency (NCA) to better identify, disrupt and cut serious and organised crime. Within the NCA, the new National Cyber Crime Unit has the specialist capabilities and necessary skills to identify, mitigate and tackle online crimes and criminals’ use of new technologies.
	The Government has also reformed border roles and responsibilities, meeting targets for seizures of some of the most harmful materials which criminals try to import; making high-quality decisions about who comes to the UK; and enabling better co-ordination of intelligence and operational activity at borders.
	We are also investing in the future. The transformative National Cyber Security Programme (NCSP), supported by £860 million of investment through to 2016, is now delivering real change in UK cyber security capabilities including through partnership with industry to improve businesses’ security. We will continue to develop this collaborative approach to boost UK cyber security, and a report on progress and forward plans for the NCSP was laid before parliament on 12December with an announcement of a number of new initiatives and the focus for future efforts to make the UK one of the safest places to business in cyber space.

NHS: Migrant Access

Earl Howe: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health (Jeremy Hunt) made the following Written Ministerial Statement on 6 January.
	On 30 December 2013 I published a response to the recent consultation on proposed changes to the way temporary migrants and visitors access the NHS in England. The response sets out initial decisions and next steps, taking account of feedback received during the consultation as well as the results of independent research on visitor and migrant use of the NHS that we commissioned in parallel with the consultation and which we published on 22 October1.
	The independent research was commissioned to provide, for the first time, a reliable estimate of visitor and migrant healthcare costs, in particular the costs of provision for those who should be charged, and for “health tourism” where visitors have an explicit intention of obtaining extensive healthcare without due payment. This research provides a compelling case for new and more robust and consistent administrative processes and systems to be introduced.
	The consultation was launched on 3 July at the same time as a linked consultation, Migrant Access to Health Services in the UK from the Home Office. Both consultations put forward the proposal that non-EEA temporary migrants should in future contribute to the costs of their healthcare. The Immigration Bill includes a provision to introduce the immigration health surcharge on a UK-wide basis to allow people to make this contribution with minimal operational impact or burden on the NHS.
	The consultation also sought views on whether any changes should be made to the categories of non-residents who should be exempted from charges. A proposal to provide more generous exemptions to ex-pats, many of whom should be charged for treatment provided when returning on visits, received broad support. The response proposes to confirm the principle that exemptions should be consistent with criteria applied to UK pensions and other state benefits, but further work is required to confirm specific qualifying criteria and financial impact.
	The open review of current exemptions generated requests for a number of new or extended exemptions for maternity, victims of domestic and other violence
	as well as victims of human trafficking and children. The response commits my department to give further thought to the exemptions for victims of domestic and other violence and of human trafficking, seeking the views of relevant agencies and advisors as appropriate.
	We do not intend to establish an exemption for children or for pregnant women. In both cases we believe there is significant risk of abuse by visitors either seeking maternity care for themselves or care for their children with existing serious illnesses, and may act as a draw to illegal migrant families. We will listen to arguments about how best to cover other vulnerable children who might otherwise be unable to access treatment. All of these potential changes will be subject to further final Cabinet approval following further evaluation.
	The consultation also proposed extending the scope of NHS services for which charges should apply for non-exempt visitors. Charges currently can only be made for most secondary care in hospitals. In primary care, we will retain free access to GP consultations. We expect GP practices to participate actively in the administration of the new system for identifying and recording chargeable patients.
	The response signals our commitment to charge visitors for treatment in hospital A&Es, but this will not be introduced until improved systems can support its effective administration, including the safe and efficient delivery of A&E services, avoiding unintended charging of legitimate residents and ensuring immediately necessary treatment is not refused. It also confirms the intention to extend charging to other services and treatment that are part of primary care, including community-based healthcare, prescriptions and dental services (which are already subject to charges for many residents). Officials will work with the NHS to determine how appropriate and cost-effective non-resident charging should be defined and administered.
	Finally, the response reinforces the need to make significant improvements in how the NHS manages and administers the charging and recovery process. Sir Keith Pearson, the independent NHS adviser to the Visitor and Migrant NHS Cost Recovery programme, and the Director of Cost Recovery are working in partnership with external NHS experts and stakeholders to design and roll out proportionate, cost-effective and operationally successful implementation.
	All of these proposals apply to the NHS in England only, although my officials will continue to engage with devolved Administrations who may wish to replicate some or all of the proposed changes.
	Sustaining services, ensuring fairness: Government response to the consultation on migrant access and financial contribution to NHS provision in England and the supporting equality analysis have been placed in the Library. Copies of the response are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
	It is also available at: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/migrants-and-overseas-visitors-use-of-the-nhs
	Note:
	1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/overseas-visitors-and-migrant-use-of-the-nhs-extent-and-costs

Pensions Bill

Lord Freud: My honourable friend the Minister for Pensions (Steve Webb MP) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Department for Work and Pensions has obtained approval for an advance from the Contingencies Fund of £984,000 for the development of IT for the Single Tier Pension before Royal Assent. This advance is necessitated by the lead-in time for delivery in April 2016 which requires IT development work to begin prior to Royal Assent of the Pensions Bill.
	Parliamentary approval for additional resource of £984,000 for this new service will be sought in the Main Estimates for the Department for Work and Pensions for 2014/15. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £984,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund. The repayment is expected to be made in the financial year 2014/15.
	This advance will allow the Single Tier Programme to continue to work to meet the revised timetable of April 2016 to implement the Single Tier new service.

Public Bodies 2013

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My right honourable friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General (Francis Maude) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	The Cabinet Office is today publishing the “Public Bodies 2013” data directory on gov.uk. This provides a single source of top level data including on all UK Government-sponsored Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs), now published wholly online in an improved data format.

Taxation: Information Exchange Agreements

Lord Deighton: My honourable friend the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (David Gauke) has today made the following Written Ministerial Statement.
	An Arrangement comprising of an Exchange of Letters amending the 2009 Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) with Anguilla was signed in duplicate on the 13 and 20 December 2013 to permit automatic and spontaneous exchange of information. At the same time an Agreement was also signed to improve international tax compliance which sets out the precise details of the information which will be automatically exchanged.
	The text of the Agreement to improve international tax compliance has been deposited in the Libraries of both Houses and will be made available on HM Revenue and Customs’ website. The text amending the Tax Information Exchange Agreement will be scheduled to a draft Order in Council and laid before the House of Commons in due course.

Veterinary Products Committee: Triennial Review

Lord De Mauley: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Owen Paterson) has today made the following Statement.
	Today I am publishing the report of the Triennial Review of the Veterinary Products Committee, which was launched by Defra’s then Minister of State on 26 March 2013. Triennial Reviews of Non-Departmental Public Bodies are part of the Government’s commitment to ensuring accountability in public life.
	The Veterinary Products Committee is an Advisory NDPB which reports to the Veterinary Medicines Directorate, an Executive Agency of Defra. The VPC exists to provide independent expert technical advice to Ministers in relation to aspects of veterinary medicinal products, in order that VMD’s remit can be fully achieved. The committee requires very broad and also specialised expertise in order to be knowledgeable across the broad scope of issues the committee may be asked to consider.
	The review has found that the functions of the VPC remain necessary and should continue to be carried out independently of government by an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body.
	The report of this review will be published online, and copies will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.